Aim To investigate the pathological changes of vascular remodeling and collagen in spontaneously hypertensive rats（SHR） and the effect of treatment by Xuezhikang. Methods 30 male SHR at 8-week-old were randomly divided into three groups （n10 each）: Xuezhikang low dose group （XZK-L group,Xuezhikang 20 mg/（kg·d））,Xuezhikang high dose group （XZK-H group,Xuezhikang 200 mg/（kg·d）） and placebo group,sex and age matched Wistar rats （control group,n10） were also designed. 8 weeks after intragastric administration,the levels of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9） and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1（TIMP-1） were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The thoracic aortas were collected for hematoxylin-eosin （HE） stain to detect vascular wall thickness and Wall-to-lumen area ratio （W/L）. The aortic collagen was showed by Masson trichrome stain. The thoracic aortas were observed by immunohistochemistry to detect the expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. Quantitation of the protein content of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 was assessed by computerized planimetry in the aortic media in immunohistochemically stained slides by using Image-Pro Plus 6.0. Results The level of serum MMP-9 in placebo group was significantly increased compared with XZK-H group and control group （P<0.05）. The levels of serum TIMP-1 in the SHR groups were higher than control group（P<0.01）. There was no significance of the levels of TIMP-1 in all SHR group （P>0.05）. Aortas of SHR showed wall thickening,increasing wall-to-lumen area ratio and collagen,disordered fibres. The thickness of vascular wall and W/L ratio of SHR were significantly higher than those of Wistar rats （P<0.05）. Arteries in XZK group showed less collagen in aortic wall than that of placebo group,especially the XZK-H group was near to the control group. In the placebo group,MMP-9 protein expression was significantly increased in the thoracic aorta compared with control group and XZK-H group（P<0.05）. However,the level of TIMP-1 had no significance in the four groups （P>0.05）. Conclusions Hypertensive vascular remodeling shows elevated level of MMP-9 and collagen deposition. While Xuezhikang can inhibit the elevated MMP-9 and collagen deposition,improve vascular remodeling in hypertension.